Princess Christina of Sweden served as first lady of the Kingdom of Sweden from the death of her mother, Princess Sibylla, in 1972 until her brother married Queen Silvia in 1976. At a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Stockholm this week, His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf presented his sister Princess Christina with His Majesty the King’s Medal of the twelfth size with diamonds in a chain.
Princess Christina of Sweden, the youngest of King Carl Gustaf’s four older sisters, receives the medal in recognition of her work over many years. This is the highest honour that can be given to a Swedish citizen. Since 1975, the King can no longer award orders to Swedish citizens, except members of the royal house, and instead awards this special honour, His Majesty the King’s Medal, which comes in several classes, of which the twelfth size with diamonds to be worn in a gold chain around the neck is the highest.
His Majesty the King’s Medal, formerly known as the Court Medal, has been awarded from the first half of the 19th century for special merits in society. The medal “Litteris et Artibus” was established in 1853 and is awarded for outstanding artistic contributions in mainly music, stage production and literature. A total of 32 medals were awarded at the ceremony, which was also attended by Her Majesty Queen Silvia.
While the medal of the twelfth size in a chain is usually given to top officials such as former prime ministers, speakers of parliament and archbishops, the version with diamonds has only been awarded once before to a royal. This was to Prince Bertil of Sweden on his 75th birthday in 1987.
For many years Princess Christina of Sweden held the unpaid job of President of the Swedish Red Cross, while also being patron of a number of organisations and helping her brother by carrying out many public engagements until she retired from royal duties on her 75th birthday in 2018.
